Saint for the day: Achillas (died 313)

Scripture Readings for today’s Liturgy:

Titus 1:1-9    –    Psalm 24    –    Luke 17:1-6

“If you have the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea.’ And it would obey you.’”(Today’s Holy Gospel according to Luke) 

Today’s scriptures call us to a sober assessment of how we follow Christ and how we lead others along the path to Heaven. Paul talks about the qualities of leadership and Jesus talks about “leading ‘little ones’ (not just children but those ‘poor’ ones and those young in the faith) into scandal – a trap. Our Gospel ends with the quest for “mustard seed faith” which enables us to cast the mulberry bush into the sea. It also speaks of sin, that is inevitable but in the context of causing another to fall. Yes, we will be forgiven for the “seven times seventy” that we have fallen from God’s grace, but “woe to you who cause one of these little ones to sin. The original words used here is “scandilon” which is translated, ‘stumbling block.” Each one of us must be sure that we are not “scandilon” for another or else we’ll get the millstone around our necks and we will be cast into the sea!

We must look at our lives and ask if we have tried to lead lives that cause others to want to follow us and follow XT. Do we stand in the light, proud of what we are doing to help others get on the right path or do we have to hide our actions lest someone find out that we are not all we are supposed to be. A good guide: whenever we have to stop/change what we are doing because another has come into our presence is a pretty good indication that we are not doing something upright and noble. Still, forgiveness is offered 70 times 7 times. All we need to do is have the honesty to admit a wrong and ask, “come unto me, Lord!” Amen!